Apparatus for supporting and guiding a flexible line

Abstract

A spray head is carried on the end of a flexible hose guided for up and down movement in a chute by a length of roller chain which allows the hose to curve gradually from horizontal to vertical while providing a low friction support for the hose. The chain may be inserted endwise into the chute through a relatively small hole formed in the chute and in a wall surrounding the chute.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for supporting and guiding a flexible line for movement along a path having a substantially straight portion and having a downwardly concave portion located at one end of said straight portion, said apparatus comprising a guide having means for supporting said line for movement along said straight portion, and a length of roller chain attached to and projecting from one end of said guide, said chain having pairs of links pivotally interconnected to one another by generally horizontal pivots extending transversely of said path and between said pairs of links, said chain further including rollers rotatably supported by said pivots and disposed within said links, so that the longitudinal axes of said rollers coincide with the longitudinal axes of said pivots, the surface of said rollers being recessed below the edges of said links, and adapted to support said line, and means on said links for limiting downward pivoting of said links about said pivots and for causing said chain to project from said guide and assume a downwardly concave curvature. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus for supporting and guiding a flexible line for movement along a path which includes a substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion extending downwardly from said horizontal portion, said path further including a downwardly concave portion located between said horizontal and vertical portions, said apparatus comprising a substantially horizontal guide having means for supporting said line for movement along the horizontal portion of said path, and a length of roller chain attached to and projecting from one end of said guide, said chain having pairs of links pivotally interconnected to one another by generally horizontal pivots extending transversely of said path and between said pairs of links, said chain further including rollers rotatably supported by said pivots and disposed within said links, so that the longitudinal axes of said rollers coincide with the longitudinal axes of said pivots, the surface of said rollers being recessed below the edges of said links, and adapted to support said line, and means on said links for limiting downward pivoting of said links about said pivots and for causing said chain to hang downwardly from said guide with a downwardly concave curvature. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said guide comprises a generally cylindrical tube, said chain being attached to and projecting from one end of said tube. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said supporting means comprise at least one roller rotatably supported on the opposite end of said tube. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 in which said supporting means comprise a series of rollers spaced angularly around and rotatably supported on the opposite end of said tube. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the uppermost link of said chain is attached rigidly to said one end of said guide, said limiting means comprising flanges on the lower sides of said links and engageable end-to-end with one another to restrict downward pivoting of said links. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for supporting and guiding a flexible line, said apparatus comprising a generally horizontal and generally cylindrical tube of sufficient diameter to receive said line, roller means on one end portion of said tube for guiding said line into and out of said one end portion and for holding said line out of engagement with the lower interior wall of said tube, a length of roller chain projecting from the other end portion of said tube, said chain having one pair of links attached rigidly to and projecting generally horizontally from said other end portion of said tube, said chain further including a series of pairs of pivoted links pivotally connected to said one pair of links and pivotally connected to one another by generally horizontal pivots extending transversely of said line and between said pairs of links, said chain further including rollers rotatably supported by said pivots and disposed within said links, so that the longitudinal axes of said rollers coincide with longitudinal axes of said pivots, the surface of said rollers being recessed below the edges of said links, and adapted to support said line, and abutments on the lower sides of said links and engagable end-to-end with one another to limit downward pivoting of said pivoted links about said pivots and to cause said chain to project from said tube and assume a downwardly concave curvature. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus for supporting and guiding a flexible line for up and down movement in a vertical chute located inside a wall, said line extending horizontally through a hole in said chute and said well adjacent the upper end of the chute and being connected to means outside of said wall for moving said line upwardly and downwardly in said chute, said apparatus comprising a generally horizontal and generally cylindrical tube disposed within said hole, said tube having an inner end portion projecting into said chute and having an outer end portion located adjacent the outer end of said hole, roller means on the outer end portion of said tube for guiding said line into and out of said outer end portion and for holding said line out of engagement with the lower interior of said tube, a length of roller chain projecting from the inner end portion of said tube and depending into said chute, said chain having one pair of links attached rigidly to and projecting generally horizontally from said inner end portion of said tube, said chain further including a series of pivoted pairs of links pivotally connected to said one pair of links and pivotally connected to one another by generally horizontal pivots extending transversely of said line and between said pairs of links, having rollers rotatably supported by said pivots and disposed within said links so that the longitudinal axes of said rollers coincide with the longitudinal axes of said pivots, the surface of said rollers being recessed below the edges of said pairs of links, and adapted to support said line, and abutments on the lower sides of said links and engageable end-to-end with one another to limit downward pivoting of said pivoted links about said pivots and to cause said chain to project from said tube and to depend into said chute with a downwardly concave curvature, thereby directing said line to a vertical position within said vertical chute.